📖

Meet the Witting Family

Beginning Sarah, Plain and Tall

Day 57of 180
Week 12of 36
30Minutes
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🖨️ Download Worksheet (PDF)
🎯 What You'll Learn

Learning Objectives

1

Understand the family dynamics in Sarah, Plain and Tall

2

Analyze characters through listening and observation

3

Practice active listening skills

📖 Scripture Connection

Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.”

— Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)

Demonstrates the importance of family love and support, similar to the Witting family's relationships

📦 Materials Needed

  • Sarah, Plain and Tall book
  • Character tracking worksheet
  • Colored pencils
  • Map of prairie regions
📚 Step-by-Step

Lesson Plan

1Opening (5 min)

Gather students in a cozy reading area. Remind them about the prairie setting and the story's background.

💭 Review Question: What do you know about families who lived on the prairie long ago?
2Teaching (10 min)

Begin reading the first chapters of Sarah, Plain and Tall, focusing on introducing Anna, Caleb, and Papa

📌 Key Talking Points:
  • Notice how the children miss their mother
  • Observe how the family works together
  • Pay attention to each character's feelings
💬 Discussion Questions:
  • How do Anna and Caleb feel about their father remarrying?
  • What do you think life was like for children on the prairie?
  • How do the characters show they care for each other?
3Activity: Character Tracking Worksheet (10 min)
hands-on

Students create a character web showing what they learn about Anna, Caleb, and Papa

📝 Instructions:
  1. Draw three circles for each character
  2. Write observations from the reading inside each circle
  3. Use different colors for different types of observations
  4. Share and discuss character insights
🔄 Variations:

Simpler: Teacher helps students fill out worksheet

Challenge: Students add quotes from the text to support observations

4Closing (5 min)

Recap what we learned about the Witting family

📝 Review Questions:
  • What did you learn about the family today?
  • How do the characters show love to each other?
🙏 Prayer:

Dear God, thank you for family and for the love you give us. Help us to care for one another as the Witting family does.

Coming up: Tomorrow we'll learn more about how letters tell stories in the book

💎 Memory Verse

Proverbs 17:17

“A friend loves at all times; and a brother is born for adversity.”

— Proverbs 17:17 (WEB)

🎯 Activity: Family Love Chain: Students write ways they support their family members on paper chain links

👨‍👩‍👧 For Parents

Teaching Notes

📚 Background:

The story explores themes of family, loss, and hope in the pioneer era

💡 Teaching Tips:
  • Discuss how families supported each other in challenging times
  • Help child understand historical context of the story
🤔 Common Struggles:

Children might find it hard to understand historical family dynamics

👀 Signs of Understanding:

Empathy and understanding of character emotions

🚀 Want More?

Extension Activities

  • Draw a picture of the Witting family farm
  • Research prairie life in the late 1800s
  • Write a letter from Anna's perspective

Ready for Tomorrow?

Great job completing today's lesson!

Continue to Day 58 →Back to Literature